Cryoglobulinemia

Cryoglobulinemia
The presence in blood of abnormal proteins called cryoglobulins that, by definition, have the unusual properties of precipitating from the blood serum when it is chilled and redissolving upon rewarming. (Cryoglobulins are gamma globulins with a molecular weight of approximately 200,000.) Cryoglobulins can cause problems by causing: {{}}The blood to be abnormally "thick" which increases the risk of blood clots forming in the brain (stroke), eyes, and heart. Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) which increases the risk of blockage of arteries. A condition called essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) involves cryoglobulin proteins which are a mixture of various antibody types that form for unknown (essential) reasons. EMC is characterized by joint pains and swelling (arthritis), enlargement of the spleen, skin vasculitis with purplish patches, and nerve, kidney and heart disease. Treatment is with medications which reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. Plasmapheresis, in which the blood's serum is replaced with saline (salt water solution), may be done in severe cases. Cryoglobulinemia can also accompany another disease such as multiple myeloma, dermatomyositis, or lymphoma. Sometimes, small amounts of cryoglobulins are discovered by accident in the lab in a serum sample from someone with no apparent symptoms.
* * *
The presence of abnormal quantities of cryoglobulin in the blood plasma.

* * *

cryo·glob·u·lin·emia or chiefly Brit cryo·glob·u·lin·aemia -.gläb-yə-lə-'nē-mē-ə n the condition of having abnormal quantities of cryoglobulins in the blood

* * *

cryo·glob·u·lin·emia (kri″o-glob″u-lĭ-neґme-ə) the presence of cryoglobulin in the blood, associated with a variety of clinical manifestations including Raynaud phenomenon, vascular purpura, cold urticaria, necrosis of extremities, bleeding disorders, vasculitis, arthralgia, neurologic manifestations, hepatosplenomegaly, and glomerulonephritis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cryoglobulinemia — Classification and external resources ICD 10 D89.1 ICD 9 273.2 …   Wikipedia

  • cryoglobulinemia — ▪ medical disorder       presence in the blood of proteins called cryoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures below 98.6° F (37° C), both in the laboratory and in the body (where the precipitation could cause circulatory impairment or blockage …   Universalium

  • cryoglobulinemia — noun A medical condition in which the blood contains an excess of cryoglobulins …   Wiktionary

  • cryoglobulinemia — cryo·glob·u·li·ne·mia …   English syllables

  • cryoglobulinemia — ¦krīōˌgläbyələ̇¦nēmēə noun ( s) Etymology: New Latin, from International Scientific Vocabulary cryoglobulin + New Latin emia : the condition of having abnormal quantities of cryoglobulins in the blood …   Useful english dictionary

  • Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia — A condition in which cryoglobulin proteins which are a mixture of various antibody types form for unknown (essential) reasons. Cryoglobulins are abnormal blood proteins that, by definition, have the unusual properties of precipitating from the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Hepatitis C — Classification and external resources Electron micrograph of hepatitis C virus purified from cell culture. The scale = 50 nanometers ICD 10 B …   Wikipedia

  • Waldenström's macroglobulinemia — DiseaseDisorder infobox Name = Waldenström s macroglobulinemia ICD10 = ICD10|C|88|0|c|81 ICDO = ICDO|9761|3 ICD9 = ICD9|273.3 OMIM = 153600 MedlinePlus = 000588 eMedicineSubj = med eMedicineTopic = 2395 DiseasesDB = 14030 MeshID = D008258… …   Wikipedia

  • Subacute bacterial endocarditis — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = ICD10 = ICD10|I|33|0|i|30 ICD9 = ICD9|421.0 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D004698 Subacute bacterial endocarditis (also called endocarditis lenta) is a …   Wikipedia

  • Cryoglobulin — An abnormal blood protein that has the unusual properties of precipitating from the blood serum when it is chilled (hence the cryo ) and redissolving when it is rewarmed. Cryoglobulins are gamma globulins with a molecular weight of approximately… …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”